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| Pope Francis greets surviving victims of Japanese military sexual slavery prior to celebrating Mass at Seoul's Myeongdong Cathedral, Monday. The purpose of the Mass was to promote peace and reconciliation. / Korea Times photo by Hong In-ki |
By Baek Byung-yeul
In a final Mass concluding the first papal trip to Asia in 25 years, Pope Francis delivered a message of reconciliation for the two Koreas at Myeongdong Cathedral in downtown Seoul, Monday.
In his homily, the pontiff prayed for peace between South and North Korea, asking that the two countries forgive each other.
"Today's Mass is first and foremost a prayer for reconciliation in this Korean family. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us how powerful prayer is when two or three of us join in asking for something," the Pope said.
"Let us pray, then, for the emergence of new opportunities for dialogue, encounter and the resolution of differences; for continued generosity in providing humanitarian assistance to those in need; and for an ever greater recognition that all Koreans are brothers and sisters, members of one family, one people."
For Monday's Mass, Pope Francis invited groups of people involved in social disputes, such as seven victims of Japan's military sexual slavery during World War II; laid-off workers of Ssangyong Motor Company; and residents from the southeastern city of Miryang who have been protesting against the state-run electric power provider's attempt to build high voltage transmission towers there that they claim threatens their health.
Prior to celebrating the Mass, the Pope had a meeting with 12 religious leaders at the cathedral.
"Life is a path. It is a path that one cannot walk alone," he said.
"In the presence of God, this also is the path on which Abraham headed towards God. Let us acknowledge each other and walk together."
The meeting included Ven. Jaseung, president of the Jogye Order, Korea's biggest Buddhist order; Kim Young-ju, general manager of the National Council of Churches in Korea; and Namgung Seong, head of Won Buddhism, a Buddhist sect originating in Korea.
Pope Francis left for Rome after a brief farewell attended by government and Roman Catholic Church officials, including Prime Minister Chung Hong-won; Peter Kang Woo-il, bishop of Jeju Island and president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea; and Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province at around 1 p.m.
Pope Francis thanked President Park Geun-hye, who joined the Mass, the Catholic priests and Korean people for his triumphant Korea visit, saying, "I wish to thank Madam President of the republic, the civil and the ecclesiastical authorities and all those who in any way helped to make this visit possible."
